Panthers Fall on Senior Day, Drop to 1-9 After 30-18 Loss to Marshall

The Georgia State Panthers came into the game today with a 1-8 record, looking to end the season with some momentum as they closed out their home game schedule against Marshall (4-5). Today was also Senior Day, and 19 players played their final home game of the season at Center Parc Credit Union Stadium.

On their first possession of the game, the Panthers capitalized on the run game, which has been an Achilles heel for them all season. They entered today’s matchup with only 1,022 rushing yards for the season. Senior Jordan Simmons broke through for a 92-yard rushing touchdown, giving Georgia State an early 7-0 lead. While marching down the field late in the first quarter and deep in Marshall territory, quarterback TJ Finley threw an interception to Jadarius Green-McKnight. Marshall turned the Panthers’ turnover into seven points after a seven-play, 85-yard scoring drive capped off by a 4-yard Michael Allen touchdown run. After the first quarter, the score was tied 7-7. The 92-yard touchdown run helped the Panthers accumulate 131 rushing yards in the first quarter. The Panthers did not punt in the opening quarter.

In the second quarter, Marshall struck first, scoring at the 5:30 mark on a Carlos Del Rio-Wilson five-yard touchdown pass to Demarcus Lacey. This scoring drive gave Marshall the lead, 14-7. With less than a minute left in the half, Marshall scored again on another Del Rio-Wilson touchdown pass, this time to Toby Payne on a 26-yard completion, extending Marshall’s lead to 21-7. After converting 75 percent of their third downs in the first quarter, the Panthers failed to convert any third downs in the second quarter, including a crucial one with 22 seconds left at midfield, and punted three times. A late Marshall penalty during an attempted Georgia State punt gave the Panthers the ball back with less than 20 seconds left in the half. This gave Georgia State a chance to get some much-needed points before the break. Kicker Braeden McAllister attempted and nailed a 60-yard field goal with no time left in the half. Marshall led at halftime 21-10.

In the third quarter, the Panthers came out aggressively on defense, holding Marshall to negative one total yard in their first possession of the second half on three plays. The aggressiveness continued on the offensive end as well when the Panthers closed the gap to 18-21 on a Finley touchdown pass to Grant Hollier and a successful two-point conversion. The touchdown drive went 95 yards on 15 plays and took eight minutes and fifty seconds of possession. Marshall, on their next possession, marched down the field and ended the third quarter deep in Georgia State territory. The Panthers dominated the third quarter with 10 minutes and 22 seconds of time of possession, 18 plays, and a 60 percent third-down conversion rate (3-for-5). They held Marshall to less than five minutes of possession in the quarter, forced two penalties, and allowed no points on the board. However, Marshall still had a small lead at the end of the third quarter, 21-18.

Early in the fourth quarter, a Marshall player suffered a major injury which postponed the game for several minutes. Both teams and fans cheered as the player was carted off the field. When play resumed, Marshall finished its previous drive from the third quarter with a 30-yard field goal, bringing its lead back up to 24-18. With 6:38 remaining in the game, a missed tackle led to Adrian Norton breaking away for a 29-yard touchdown after a short Del Rio-Wilson pass. Georgia State quickly fired back with a Finley 32-yard pass to Jordan Simmons to move the ball down the field. While scrambling and looking to make a big play for the Panthers, Finley was tackled and lost the ball, resulting in a turnover. Marshall took advantage of the opportunity as Del Rio-Wilson threw his third touchdown of the game, his first to Norton. That score sealed the win for Marshall as Georgia State suffered its ninth loss of the season, falling to 1-9. The Panthers will finish the last two games of the season on the road.